It's quite easy to mount a good argument for each of four sides vying for the final two spots in the Maitland first grade cricket semi-finals. Northern Suburbs, Kurri Weston and Eastern Suburbs are on 40 points and Raymond Terrace are on 36. All four can all still make the top four but the pressure to secure enough wins to ensure a spot is mounting with just two rounds remaining. Eastern Suburbs, missing from finals since 2013-14, can probably lay claim to be sentimental favourites but after being in the top four for most of the season they are precariously placed with games against Western Suburbs and Thornton to end the season. Raymond Terrace are still mathematically in the equation if results in other games fall their way, but strong early season form has deserted them and they have the hardest run home with games against City United (away) and Wests (home). Norths host Kurri Weston this round. The two teams are the form sides outside the top two of City and Wests, however, a win appears more important for the Warriors who are away to top side City in the final round. Norths are shaping as the most likely of all four sides to book a spot in the finals. They have a superior quotient to their rivals and a final round one-dayer against Tenambit Morpeth. "There's two games to go. That's the focus now," Norths skipper Lincoln Mills said. "We're not really talking about the table. It's about playing good cricket each week and enjoying ourselves." It's a formula which has seen the young side record wins against Easts and Raymond Terrace punctuated by the wash-out draw against Thornton. Ladder

Four doesn't fit into two in Maitland first grade cricket

GOOD TIMES: Eastern Suburbs players celebrate during their round five win against City United. Picture: Michael Hartshorn

It's quite easy to mount a good argument for each of four sides vying for the final two spots in the Maitland first grade cricket semi-finals.

Northern Suburbs, Kurri Weston and Eastern Suburbs are on 40 points and Raymond Terrace are on 36. All four can all still make the top four but the pressure to secure enough wins to ensure a spot is mounting with just two rounds remaining.

Eastern Suburbs, missing from finals since 2013-14, can probably lay claim to be sentimental favourites but after being in the top four for most of the season they are precariously placed with games against Western Suburbs and Thornton to end the season.

Raymond Terrace are still mathematically in the equation if results in other games fall their way, but strong early season form has deserted them and they have the hardest run home with games against City United (away) and Wests (home).

Norths host Kurri Weston this round. The two teams are the form sides outside the top two of City and Wests, however, a win appears more important for the Warriors who are away to top side City in the final round.

Norths are shaping as the most likely of all four sides to book a spot in the finals. They have a superior quotient to their rivals and a final round one-dayer against Tenambit Morpeth.